Modulator protein as a component of the myosin light chain kinase from chicken gizzard.

The Ca2+-dependent regulation of smooth muscle actomyosin involves a myosin light chain kinase (ATP: myosin light chain phosphotransferase). It has been shown (Dabrowska, R., Aromatorio, D., Sherry, J.M.F., and Hartshorne, D.J. 1977, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 78, 1263) that the kinase is composed of two proteins of approximate molecular weights 105 000 and 17 000. In this communication it is demonstrated that the 17 000 component is the modulator protein. This conclusion is based on: (1) the identical behavior of the 17 000 kinase component and modulator protein in assays of actomyosin Mg2+-ATPase activity, phosphorylation of myosin, and phosphodiesterase activity, and, (2) the similarity of the 17 000 kinase component and the modulator protein with respect to amino acid composition, absorption spectrum, and electrophoresis in urea-polyacrylamide gels. It is shown also that the modulator protein from smooth muscle and troponin C are distinct proteins.